Jesus

Can humans love as Jesus does?

I cannot recall the number of times I have heard my fellow Christian brothers and sisters repeated the phrase: “I want to love as Jesus does”. I have even used this phrase countless times. However, after careful examination of the life Jesus lived, and the things He did and stood for, when He walked this earth, I am convince human beings cannot love as Jesus does. Furthermore, Jesus did not tell humans to love like He does. He commanded them to love their neighbors with the same sincerity as they would themselves.   The apostle John who was up close and personal with Jesus writes the following: “Greater love has no man than this that a man (Jesus) lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Jesus is in a class by Himself. He is Alpha and Omega. He is Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. He is capable to do things which the human brain cannot comprehend.

Don’t panic! Use what you have to cross your red sea

Image via jewishcurrents.org

Image via jewishcurrents.org

Don’t panic. Jesus assures His followers that He will never leave them or forsake them. So, why do you panic when you come upon a Red Sea. Indeed, facing a tough situation can be extraordinarily nerve-racking but it can also be a moment when you prove to the world that God‘s word is true, and your faith in Him is unshakable. When a child of God panics in a difficult situation you send a negative message to the world–one that breeds distrust and disbelief.

As a child of God, He empowers you beyond your imagination. You have authority to do wondrous things. Unfortunately, you either do not believe it, or you do not know it.

Here is what Jesus told His disciples about empowerment: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Father is glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:12-14).

Hence, it is not crazy to assume that sometimes God directs you to the Red Sea to test your faith. Therefore, instead of allowing a difficult situation to send you into panic mode, use the experience as an opportunity to exercise your faith.

In the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites came upon their Red Sea, and they panic. They felt trapped. Sandwiched between the Red Sea and Pharaoh‘s army, there was no way out. They turned on Moses, but as a good leader should have, Moses remained calm. He knew God would deliver the group; he just did not know how.  He had no clue that the rod he used to help him to walk would be all he needs.

Still, when Moses cried out to God, for help God surprised him by saying: “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea” (Read Exodus 14:15-16).

Essentially, God told Moses not to panic. Instead, he should use what he had (his rod) to do the miracle.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;
and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord (Isaiah 54:17).

Do you live a good Christian life?

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Every good Christian dream of the day when you stand before Jesus Christ and hear Him say, “Welcome to my Fathers’ Kingdom, thou good and faithful servant. Unfortunately, not every so-called good Christian will see their dream turn into reality. As a matter of fact, Jesus, in one of His discourses made it clear, “Not every one that says unto me Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). That begs the question. Is living a good Christian life enough to get you into heaven?

Anyone can seem to live a good Christian life, until the truth comes out.  The Scribes and Pharisees appeared good until Jesus exposed them for what they were; hypocrites. In one, instance, He referred to them as: “You blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter that the outside of them may be clean also” (Matthew 23:26). This pious group was more concerned about outward appearance than they were about the heart.

Unlike the Biblical Scribes and Pharisees, we Christians, must not only seem to live a good Christian life, but our hearts, words and actions must be in sync with the teachings of Jesus Christ. In other words, we must practice what we preach in public and in private. “For I say to you, this is Jesus talking, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:21). The blue print for a good Christian life can be found in Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount‘. (Read Matthew 5,6,7)

Do you always attempt to prove a wrong?

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Who among us have never tried to prove a wrong? Whether it was something which you have said that hurt somebody‘s feelings, or your downright failure to honor a commitment as well as disobeying a command.

Such behavior is common among human beings; Christian and secular. Rather than fess up and accept responsibility for your action or inaction you put up defenses. Then, when, you are backed into a corner you come up with excuses that usually make no sense. Oddly enough, once you start making excuses you are inclined to lie. The Bible tells us “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22).

Do you remember when you were a child how you would try to prove a wrong to wiggle your way out of trouble? That was what Adam and Eve did after they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Here is what the Bible says happened when God confronted both man and woman.

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Then Adam replied, “I have heard thy voice in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman whom you gave me offered me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What is this that thou has done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” (Genesis 3:9-13).

So, my dear brothers and sisters, the next time the adversary tempt you to prove a wrong fess up and accept responsibility because that is what Jesus expects you to do.